A few weeks ago, I celebrated my 26th birthday! Every year, I take a moment and reflect about life: what I’ve learned, what I’ve been through, and how I can overall become a better person. If I had to pinpoint the most important lessons I’ve learned thus far, these are the 6 lessons that stand out to me the most.

BAD TIMES ARE SHORT-TERM

When going through a difficult situation, it feels like there’s never going to be an end in sight. I’m here to tell you, from experience, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It may take a while to get out of that tunnel, but there is light at the end. Bad times don’t last forever so keep on pushing through.

SAVE, SAVE & SAVE SOME MORE

The best time to save is in your 20’s. I’ll do a future post on this, but start saving now! Even if it’s just a few dollars here and there, save. I can repeat this over and over and over again.

HAPPINESS IS A MINDSTATE

Life can be a bit complicated sometimes, but we’re in control more than we think we are. Every morning you wake up and make a choice; to be happy or to be miserable. What choice are you making?

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Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy. There's going to be stress in life, but it's your choice whether you let it affect you or not.

-VALERIE BERTINELLI

VACATION WITHOUT GUILT

This year, I took a trip to Toronto, and I really went back and forth on whether it was a good idea. Should I save this money, or should I go. Ultimately I decided to go, and it was one of the best weekend trips I’ve ever taken. Vacation often, and don’t feel bad about it.

SPEAK UP

If you have a burning desire to say what’s on your mind, say it (with class of course). You were given a voice for a reason, use it.

PUT YOURSELF FIRST

This is the most important lesson I’ve learned over time; if you don’t take care of you, you can’t take care of anyone else. Put yourself first! It’s not selfish to take a step back and do what is best for you and anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong.